Please help me decide! Redcat or Losi!?

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J

John McCormick

Member
Messages
8
Hi Guys. I am a noob with 1/5 scales but I want one bad and I can not make up my mind on which model to get. I've owned a Redcat 1/8th scale nitro buggy and the spur gear broke after running a few times and was overall not hugely impressed by the brand. It wasn't the worst r/c Ive owned either. I saw the new K&N Losi DBXL at the hobby shop and the quality seemed to be much better. But that also comes with a price that's close to double.

I'm wondering if I should just bite the bullet and buy the more expensive higher quality product or should I save money and get the Redcat? I like that the Redcat's have the bigger motors and I'm worried I wont be happy with the smaller motor in the Losi. Any unbiased advice would be so helpful! I know for the Redcat stuff I have to get all the parts on line as opposed to locally and the guy even told me at the hobby shop that they wont even work on Redcats there. Not sure why so much animosity towards the brand...

Talked to a local r/c shop again just now and he even said the DBXL wasn't a great car either... Recommended the 5ive T. Which I would love it it was so expensive! Single dad here gotta be a little careful at least lol
 
@John McCormick Redcat has had (still has!?) a bad reputation as when they first came out they tended to use weak parts coupled with replacement and aftermarket parts where pretty much nonexistent. It's because all of the troubles in the past that has really turned off not only individuals but local hobby shops as well (your LHS isn't alone). That said, I've spoken with several people that feel Redcat is trying to turn things around. I don't own one so I really can't say how much, if any they have improved.

Of the Losi brands the 5ive-T is certainly going to be the better truck right out of the box compared to Redcat or even the DBXL. In addition there are tons of aftermarket parts for the truck and finding parts locally or online is going to be pretty easy, whereas Redcat is going to be pretty much online only.
 
Thanks for the reply! That all makes complete sense. I would love to have the 5ive T. Im having trouble with the cost. Wanted to stay around 1k for my first one.
 
I was just watching some vids on Redcat yesterday. He had bought a rampage and after the first tank of gas the thing was pretty much trash. He rolled it once and the body smashed completely in half and broke both body mounts, he ran it into his own shin and snapped the front bumper, came off a very small jump and broke the rear bumper, then rolled it again and broke one of the bell cranks!!! I don't know where anybody gets off saying that they're trying to turn things around, the Rampage is a piece of junk made of junk materials. Like everyone will tell you, the 5ive-T is king in 1/5th world, but there are many other great cars. I've had a Baja 5T and now have a Losi DBXL. I definitely like the DBXL way more. I have a ESP championship ported 30.5cc motor and Dominator pipe (so wayyy more power than stock) and the only issues I've had with it are keeping the tires on. I lost a center CVD but that's because the set screw backed out. If you get a DBXL you have to pull the center CVD's apart and Loctite them before you drive it, or the set screws will back out. Other than that, it's a great car. The plastics are indestructible. I've sent mine cartwheeling at 50 mph multiple times and haven't broken a thing. I liked my Baja but the DBXL is on another level.
 
madmanandrewk said:
I was just watching some vids on Redcat yesterday. He had bought a Rampage and after the first tank of gas the thing was pretty much trash. He rolled it once and the body smashed completely in half and broke both body mounts, he ran it into his own shin and snapped the front bumper, came off a very small jump and broke the rear bumper, then rolled it again and broke one of the bell cranks!!! I don't know where anybody gets off saying that they're trying to turn things around, the Rampage is a piece of junk made of junk materials. Like everyone will tell you, the 5ive-T is king in 1/5th world, but there are many other great cars. I've had a Baja 5T and now have a Losi DBXL. I definitely like the DBXL way more. I have a ESP championship ported 30.5cc motor and Dominator pipe (so wayyy more power than stock) and the only issues I've had with it are keeping the tires on. I lost a center CVD but that's because the set screw backed out. If you get a DBXL you have to pull the center CVD's apart and Loctite them before you drive it, or the set screws will back out. Other than that, it's a great car. The plastics are indestructible. I've sent mine cartwheeling at 50 mph multiple times and haven't broken a thing. I liked my Baja but the DBXL is on another level.
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I didn't get many tanks in on my redcat buggy before the plastic spur gear was gone. Didn't run it super hard. Starting to think I should get the Losi. But even the DBXL I hear isn't made by Losi. The guy at the hobby shop didn't have kind words for it lol I could tell it was higher quality than the redcat I have though.
 
Yeah @John McCormick a lot of people seem to have a bad taste in their mouths about the DBXL, but when you get down to it, what actual issues are there? You're right in that it is not made by Losi but by RCMK, a Korean RC company with a reputation for quality engines, but the DBXL was there first whole car and was from the beginning supposed to be a price point vehicle, but when it comes down to it, there is nothing "bad" about the DBXL. All the materials are good quality (the plastics are indestructible, which is one of the huge problems with normal price point vehicles) and the car is overall a good design. Out of the box, just Loctite the CVD's and you're good for hours of fun. It's not even right to compare the DBXL to something like a Redcat that uses cutrate materials for all the vital parts.
 
I found a place online that will install the 29cc head upgrade for 100 and ship it to me like that. Seems like that might be the way to go!
 
madmanandrewk said:
Yeah @John McCormick a lot of people seem to have a bad taste in their mouths about the DBXL, but when you get down to it, what actual issues are there? You're right in that it is not made by Losi but by RCMK, a Korean RC company with a reputation for quality engines, but the DBXL was there first whole car and was from the beginning supposed to be a price point vehicle, but when it comes down to it, there is nothing "bad" about the DBXL. All the materials are good quality (the plastics are indestructible, which is one of the huge problems with normal price point vehicles) and the car is overall a good design. Out of the box, just Loctite the CVD's and you're good for hours of fun. It's not even right to compare the DBXL to something like a Redcat that uses cutrate materials for all the vital parts.
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Just bought a DBXL from Hobbyzone.com. They had a 10% off coupon that I used so only paid 845 out the door. Cant wait to fire it up!
 
If you are very concerned about durability, which I have never done, boil all the plastics for about 2 minutes using a strainer as to prevent the parts touch the bottom of the pan.

Regardless, its going to be a learning curve, 1/5 is different from nitros and electrics smaller scale.

Safety first; killer bee switch.
Break in the engine, heat cycle it by cooling off at least 15 minutes, 25:1.

Some good reading...

http://www.rclargescale.com/forum/engine-exhaust/1529-truth-about-rc-engines.html
 
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madmanandrewk said:
I was just watching some vids on Redcat yesterday. He had bought a Rampage and after the first tank of gas the thing was pretty much trash. He rolled it once and the body smashed completely in half and broke both body mounts, he ran it into his own shin and snapped the front bumper, came off a very small jump and broke the rear bumper, then rolled it again and broke one of the bell cranks!!! I don't know where anybody gets off saying that they're trying to turn things around, the Rampage is a piece of junk made of junk materials. Like everyone will tell you, the 5ive-T is king in 1/5th world, but there are many other great cars. I've had a Baja 5T and now have a Losi DBXL. I definitely like the DBXL way more. I have a ESP championship ported 30.5cc motor and Dominator pipe (so wayyy more power than stock) and the only issues I've had with it are keeping the tires on. I lost a center CVD but that's because the set screw backed out. If you get a DBXL you have to pull the center CVD's apart and Loctite them before you drive it, or the set screws will back out. Other than that, it's a great car. The plastics are indestructible. I've sent mine cartwheeling at 50 mph multiple times and haven't broken a thing. I liked my Baja but the DBXL is on another level.
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I have a Redcat Dunerunner and couldn't be happier esp since I put a belt drive on it.
I too would love a 5T but they're just too dear and no matter which one you buy you're going to spend money on it so you might as well start off with the cheaper one.
You're right about the DBXL though - it does have a bad name and is not Losi.
 
As a Redcat owner I say out of the two you are deciding with I would go with the Losi. I never had a problem with my XT but I got bored with it fast and to upgrade it is hard. You have to go online and search for things and half the time you have to by from China. I have since shelf that Redcat and bought FG Sportsline, HPI baja, FG dragster that I'm building now.
 
I agree, Losi or Baja, not RedCat.

From what Redcat owners have expressed, the transmission plate swapped from plastic to metal and if possible to belt driven which is co$$tly. Well worth upgrade from RC owners.

About Losi, both the DBXL and 5ive have the front driveshaft in an angle. You will be snapping them, its part of owning one. They are not that expensive. C cups and dog bones will wear out, its part of the hobby, too much power at such scale.

I am contemplating on buying a Baja, more snappy, light vehicles and less parts to worry about. They are all fun, each has its gremlins and recurrent maintenance. I am on my 3rd front drive shaft pin and second shaft, since owning the truck in December with not a lot of run time. They are like 10 to 15 dollars, I buy one or two every other month and the bag of DS pins is like 8 dollars.

Had a seized rear left bearing, opened it, cleaned and ready to go. I bought a rebuild kit, $65.00 for the engine, spare pull start, clutch, front a arms. Check out TGN distributing, sometimes you find better deals than on Ebay, and always free shipping, no minimum.
 
crankestein said:
I agree, Losi or Baja, not Redcat.

From what Redcat owners have expressed, the transmission plate swapped from plastic to metal and if possible to belt driven which is co$$tly. Well worth upgrade from RC owners.

About Losi, both the DBXL and 5ive have the front driveshaft in an angle. You will be snapping them, its part of owning one. They are not that expensive. C cups and dog bones will wear out, its part of the hobby, too much power at such scale.

I am contemplating on buying a Baja, more snappy, light vehicles and less parts to worry about. They are all fun, each has its gremlins and recurrent maintenance. I am on my 3rd front drive shaft pin and second shaft, since owning the truck in December with not a lot of run time. They are like 10 to 15 dollars, I buy one or two every other month and the bag of DS pins is like 8 dollars.

Had a seized rear left bearing, opened it, cleaned and ready to go. I bought a rebuild kit, $65.00 for the engine, spare pull start, clutch, front a arms. Check out TGN distributing, sometimes you find better deals than on Ebay, and always free shipping, no minimum.
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I had no problems like you are mentioning about the Redcat, I just upgraded the engine and exhaust and that's it. But I have a Baja which I love. There is so many things you can do with it. And has for the Losi I never owned one but has for that drive shaft being on an angle, I just don't see that working right. Breaking, stripping, etc. I really think the baja is the way to go.
 
I am a member of redcatrampage forums, its a known issue that the plastic gear plate melts w all and its bearings turning into catastrophic failure.

Every RC owner I have talked to tells me the same thing, replace w metal, and if I recall the upgrade for the RC buggy is the truck diff plate because it holds bigger bearings. Just YT and Google it, and almost everytime the first upgrade is the plate. Unless you buy the expensive truck then its already done. And many will say, save yourself some headache and buy the upgraded truck, pays off by itself. And to be bullet proof, belt driven, and its night and day difference.
 
Losi ..... I just got rid of everything redcat... hard to adjust brakes with out pulling engine and half frame apart... gluing tires on 5th scale is ludacris. ..... more after market parts and more info avalable concerning Losi...
 
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